Widespread Police Raids after Delhi Blast Stir Fear, Anger among Muslims in India
Police in the Indian state of Haryana have carried out large-scale raids on mosques, madrasas, and Muslim-owned homes and businesses following a car blast attack in Delhi earlier this month.
The operation in the Muslim-majority Nuh district has sparked fear and anger among residents who say an entire community is being treated as suspects without evidence.
The raids began after Nuh Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar instructed all station heads to conduct checks of religious institutions, educational centers, factories and rented properties. Officials claim the aim is to prevent any “terrorist or anti-social activity” in the region.
Residents told Clarion India the sudden and sweeping attention on Muslim spaces has created deep unease. Nuh, located south of Delhi, has long reported heavy surveillance and strict policing during sensitive or communal incidents.
Police defend action as precautionary
According to SP Kumar, officers have been asked to gather information from schools, colleges, madrasas, private firms and workplaces, including details of individuals who recently arrived in the district. He said the data will be shared with investigative agencies.
Police have also been directed to monitor older vehicles entering and leaving the district, citing routine security practices. Landlords have been told to verify tenants through police checks before renting out their properties.
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Officials say the measures are part of a wider security review after the Delhi blast and are aimed at ensuring “public safety”.
Residents say only Muslim spaces are being checked
Locals insist the operations appear to single out Muslim institutions. They say this selective focus reinforces a long-standing pattern of viewing Muslims with suspicion after any security incident.
Shahid Ali, a resident of Nuh, said the raids have shaken the community. He said mosques and madrasas are being treated as if they are criminal spaces. A schoolteacher, speaking anonymously, said the scale of checking is unprecedented and described the situation as “one-sided”.
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Community elders say the searches add to the sense of discrimination felt by young Muslims in the district. Abdul Rehman, a retired madrasa teacher, said the raids deepen frustrations already experienced in jobs, housing and policing.
The Delhi blast link
The searches intensified after reports that Dr Umar-un Nabi, the main accused in the Delhi car blast, visited a mosque in Nuh shortly before the incident. Police have not suggested wider involvement from the district, but the visit of one individual has prompted extensive checks.
Residents say this link is being stretched too far. Irfan Qureshi, a shopkeeper, said that if a suspect visits a market, the police do not raid every shop. He questioned why a visit to a mosque should trigger district-wide operations.
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Rights activists told Clarion India the Nuh operation reflects a wider pattern in India where Muslim communities face blanket suspicion whenever a security incident occurs, regardless of the facts.
Local social worker Samina Khan said security measures must be proportionate and should not appear punitive. She said Nuh’s residents have historically cooperated with authorities and urged dialogue instead of mass raids.
Many locals say they are willing to cooperate fully but want clarity about the purpose of the operation. They argue that engagement with community leaders would build trust, while unannounced police entries into religious spaces fuel anxiety.
A local imam said Nuh has always cooperated with officials but warned that blanket checking harms trust. Residents say the police should act on specific intelligence rather than suspicion aimed at an entire population.
As the searches continue, the community is calling for a fairer and more balanced approach — one that protects security while respecting dignity and citizenship.
Source: 5pillarsuk.com
